Sarracenia plant named ‘Meerkat Mob’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Sarracenia  plant named ‘Meerkat Mob’ that is characterized by long tubular shaped leaves with a vertical hood extending above the leaf opening, green leaves with red veins and a green peristome that is mottled dark pink on older leaves and a hood with sides that extend 15 to 20 mm. on each side of the leaf opening and lobes that extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below the leaf opening.

Botanical classification: Sarracenia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘MEERKAT MOB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sarracenia plant botanically known as Sarracenia hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Meerkat Mob’.

The new Sarracenia plant is the product of a breeding program conducted by the inventor in Vista, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new ornamental carnivorous pitcher plants with large leaves, high leaf counts and distinctive leaf colors

‘Meerkat Mob’ originated from the crossing of a large number of unidentified proprietary selections of Sarracenia hybrid (not patented) in 2009. The exact parent plants are unknown. The resulting seeds were subsequently harvested and grown. ‘Meerkat Mob’ was selected as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Vista, Calif. in 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Meerkat Mob’ first occurred by tissue culture in 2011 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Sarracenia cultivar ‘Meerkat Mob’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Meerkat Mob’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existing known varieties of Sarracenia.

-   -   1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits long tubular shaped leaves         with a vertical hood extending above the leaf opening.     -   2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits green leaves with red veins         and a green peristome that is mottled dark pink on older leaves.     -   3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a hood with sides that         extend 15 to 20 mm. on each side of the leaf opening and lobes         that extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below the leaf opening.

‘Meerkat Mob’ can be compared to plants of an unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the inventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Sarracenia differed from plants of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits longer leaves than the         leaves of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea.     -   2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits an inside hood surface that         is covered with very small hyaline hairs. The unidentified         selection of Sarracenia purpurea has an inside hood surface that         is covered with prominent downward pointing hairs.     -   3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaf hood margins that are         smooth and not wavy. The leaf hood margins of Sarracenia         purpurea have undulations on each side of the hood.     -   4. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a hood with sides that         extend on each side of the leaf opening. The sides have lobes         that extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below the leaf opening. The         unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea has longer lobes         that extend downward 15 to 20 mm. below the leaf opening.

‘Meerkat Mob’ can be compared to plants of an unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the inventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Sarracenia differed from plants of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a vertical leaf hood. The         leaf hood of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia         leucophylla curves over the leaf opening.     -   2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaves that radiate from         the rhizome tip in a symmetrical spiral. The leaves of the         unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla radiate from         the rhizome tip and side branches in a non-uniform pattern.     -   3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a green leaf hood. The         unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla has white         translucent chlorophyll free areas on the hood and the top of         the leaf.     -   4. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaf hood margins that are         smooth and not wavy. The leaf hood margins of Sarracenia         leucophylla are very wavy and undulating.     -   5. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits hollow tube shaped leaves         through the growing season. The leaves of the unidentified         selection of Sarracenia leucophylla are flat in the spring         developing into hollow tube shaped leaves in the summer.

Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ can be compared to Sarracenia ‘Cobra Nest’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,821). ‘Meerkat Mob’ is different than ‘Cobra Nest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a smaller number of leaves than the         number of leaves of ‘Cobra Nest’.     -   2. ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits longer leaves than the leaves of         ‘Cobra Nest’. -

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of a 24 month old plant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Sarracenia cultivar named ‘Meerkat Mob’. Data was collected in Vista, Calif. from 24 month old plants grown in a polyethylene greenhouse in 10 cm. diameter containers. The time of year was autumn and the temperature range was 26-40 degrees Centigrade during the day and 18-22 degrees Centigrade at night. The light level was 3000 foot candles. No photoperiodic treatments were used. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Meerkat Mob’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Sarracenia hybrid ‘Meerkat Mob’. -   Parentage: ‘Meerkat Mob’ originated from a cross of two unidentified     proprietary selections of Sarracenia hybrid. -   Propagation: Tissue culture. -   Time to initiate roots on a tissue-culture plantlet: About 30 days     at 20 degrees Centigrade. -   Time to produce a rooted tissue-cultured plantlet: About 150 days at     20 degrees Centigrade. -   Crop time: Approximately 18 months. -   Temperature tolerance: 0 to 40 degrees Centigrade. -   Annual or perennial: Perennial. -   Root description: Central root with sparse side roots 1 mm. in     diameter, 155C in color, maturing to 175D. -   Plant shape: Upright carnivorous perennial plant with erect tubular     leaves. -   Plant growth habit: Compact; upright with strong leaves; leaves     arise in a spiral from a rhizome tip; vigorous growth. -   Containers: 10 cm. containers. -   Plant height: Soil level to top of leaves 24 to 27 cm. -   Plant width: 16 to 18 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Tubular to trumpet-shaped, smaller diameter at             base and larger diameter at apex with peristome at opening;             mostly erect to slightly leaning; keel on one side of leaf;             large terminal hood; sessile.         -   Hood shape.—Hemispherical with wings on each side of opening             and lobes that extend downwardly form each wing; apex             rounded; margin entire.         -   Number of leaves per plant.—6 to 8.         -   Leaf length.—24 to 27 cm.         -   Leaf diameter.—4.1 cm. at apex and 8 mm. at base.         -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Keel length.—18.5 cm.         -   Keel width.—1.7 cm.         -   Hood dimensions.—5.3 cm. in length and 7.7 cm. in width;             sides of hood extend 15 to 20 mm. on each side of leaf             opening; lobes extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below leaf             opening.         -   Hood texture.—Outer surface glabrous; inner surface has fine             hyaline hairs less than 0.5 mm. in length.         -   Peristome dimensions.—2.5 mm. in width at hood, 6 mm. in             width at front.         -   Peristome texture.—Glabrous.         -   Peristome color.—144A; mature peristome mottled with 185B.         -   Young leaf color outer surface.—144B; hood color 144B.         -   Young leaf color inner surface.—144B; hood color 144B.         -   Mature leaf color outer surface.—144A; veins 185B; hood 144A             with veins 185B.         -   Mature leaf color inner surface.—144A, upper 3 cm. mottled             185B; veins 185B, hood 144A with veins 185B. -   Flower: ‘Meerkat Mob’ has not produced flowers to date. -   Fruit and seed: ‘Meerkat Mob’ has not produced fruit or seed to     date. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Sarracenia exhibit     good resistance to fungal diseases including Botrytis cinerea and     Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Mature plants are susceptible to     mealy bugs (Myzus persicae) on the rhizome. Young leaves susceptible     to green peach aphids (Pseudococcus longispinus). Mature leaves not     susceptible to green peach aphids. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sarracenia plant named ‘Meerkat Mob’ as described and illustrated. 